Motorcycle Accident Statistics
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Motorcycle Fatalities Increasing: Read the October 2001 full report "Fatal Single Vehicle Motorcycle Crashes" (DOT HS 809 360) from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA); a study recently conducted on motorcycle accidents and safety
Here's a summary of NHTSA DOT HS 809 360
Single vehicle motorcycle crashes account for about 45 percent of all motorcyclist fatalities. More than 38,000 motorcyclists have died in single vehicle motorcycle crashes between 1975 and 1999. The report claims to provide data for insight into possible causes for these fatalities.
According to the report, from 1990 through 1999, there were a total of 11,038 fatal single vehicle motorcycle crashes. During that same time period, there were an estimated 294,000 non-fatal single vehicle motorcycle crashes. Of these, an estimated 39,000 involved property damage only and 255,000 involved injuries.
Motorcyclist fatalities in single vehicle motorcycle crashes decreased each year from 1990 to 1996, reaching a historic low of 937 in 1996 and again in 1997. In 1998, the fatalities increased to 1,042 (11.2 percent increase); in 1998 and in 1999 they increased to 1,140 (9.4 percent). The overall increase in motorcyclist fatalities from 1997 to 1999 was 203 (21.7 percent).
Report Conclusions: Findings from the FARS (Fatality Analysis Reporting System) data illustrate possible reasons for motorcyclist fatalities in single vehicle motorcycle crashes:
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Helmet use among fatally injured motorcyclists below 50 percent
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More motorcyclist fatalities are occurring on rural roads
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High blood alcohol levels are a major problem among motorcycle operators
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Half of the fatalities are related to negotiating a curve prior to the crash
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Over 80 percent of the fatalities occur off roadway
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Undivided roadways account for a majority of the fatalities
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Almost two thirds of the fatalities were associated with speeding as an operator contributing factor in the crash
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Almost 60 percent of motorcyclist fatalities occur at night
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Collision with a fixed object is a significant factor in over half of the fatalities
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Braking and steering maneuvers possibly contribute for almost 25 percent of the fatalities
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More riders age 40 and over are getting killed
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Almost one third of the fatally injured operators did not have a proper license
1998 Motorcycle Accident Statistics:
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2,284 motorcyclists died and approximately 49,000 were injured in highway crashes in the United States.
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Per mile traveled in 1998, a motorcyclist is approximately 16 times more likely to die in a crash than an automobile occupant. And 3x (times) as likely to be injured.
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Head injury is a leading cause of death in motorcycle crashes.
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In 1998, 46% of fatally injured motorcycle drivers were not wearing helmets at the time of the crash.
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NHTSA estimates that motorcycle helmets reduce the likelihood of a fatality by 29% in a crash.
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In 1998, 41% of all motorcycle drivers involved in fatal crashes were speeding.
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Nearly one out of five motorcycle drivers (18%) involved in fatal crashes in 1998 was operating with an invalid license at the time of the collision.
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Motorcycle drivers involved in fatal crashes in 1998 had higher intoxication rates than any other type of motor vehicle driver at 31%.
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In 1998, 500 motorcyclists lives were saved due to helmet usage; 307 could have been saved.
The solo motorcycle accidents are probably the result of n00bs buying pocket rockets and trying to:
1.- Keep up with the better riders
2.- Trying to lose the chicken strips... it can be embarrassing to turn up for a ride with a fancy bike and have chicken strips.
There's no denying motorcycles are inherently more dangerous than cars just by the mere fact that they're unstable 2 vs 4 wheels and don't have a protective shell.
But lets face it, I would prefer to clock out having done what I wanted to do rather than to have spent my life scared of what could have happened.
I've been riding since I was 13... and I've come off more than once and been hit by a car more than once.
But after riding around Peru on a 250, I think it would be fun to ride around the Outback looking for UFO's (my excuse) with a 1200cc offroad bike.
Car drivers: Please be aware of bikers, it really hurts when you hits us with your metal cage, AND remember we're helping traffic be more fluid, not disregarding traffic laws.
DON'T play with your phones, GPS, radio, DVD player and put makeup on.
AND if you're female PLEASE don't ever buy a Humvee (GypsyDrifter excepted cos she's sane)... I saw a woman in a Humvee today scared the life out of me, I really went pale.
Just buy it Flysurfer and use it to commute to work as well as UFO spotting trips...I would.
I use a DR650 as my main commute into work, I like the upright postion of a dirt bike (mmh is a DR650 a dirt bike only just) for good viz, easy to throw around and zip between cars, and the best bit is its a 15-20min ride to and from work no matter what time of day.
ahh just saw the weight 270kgs is a fair bit for daily punting thru the traffic. So you will just have to buy it and another light daily ride...
Mate, forget a new bike, get the TDM 900. They're dirt cheap, people want "sportsbikes" and and twins just get left on the shelf even though they're perfectly suited to road riding. And if you feel the need for a little speed, and you love scaring the **** out of yourself( and any other sport bike rider), go the turbo option. mine is currently making 140 horsepower and 220 nm. perfect for 100 kph monos off the throttle!!!!
Or buy one of these...... I did 3 years ago and love it!!!
Just like cars, boats and even kites it all about personal preference. No one can make your mind up for you, if you love it and can afford it buy it.
Unfortunately I dont get to take mine out as often as I would like (I avoid riding to and from work as I have to be responsible and it's too high risk) but that just makes the times you do go for a ride even more rewarding.
Ride safe.
hi fly surfer, typically everyone has answered your question and turned it into an out of context argument about their own war stories and moaning how **** everybody else is.
your question is should you buy this bike.
i have a mate who is a serious biker, just did a 8000k trip for the love of it on an old 916 and he wants to buy a BMW GS 1200 and get rid of his car. reckons he could jump on it and nip down to melbourne quickly for a concert then nip back, but still be nearly as quick on the twisty bits and also be able to take it off road. i dont know the weight of it compared to the tenere but if you only want it to do a once a year trip into the dirty stuff then maybe you should consider something smaller. In saying that, anyone who has ridden quite a bit knows that a well balanced bikes weight isnt really noticed when going slower if the majority of the mass is kept reasonably low.
just remember that the added power of that bike isnt necessarily an advantage in the dirt, quite the contrary.
i remember reading an article about guys that travel the world on bikes saying that their bike of choice for the ewan and charlie type missions is a suzuki dr 350!
anyway, go and rent one and then rent a gs straight after it and make a judgement based on that, either way, if you dont use it or find it inappropriate for your use, you can always sell it.........mmmmmmm new bike happiness ,...just like fresh tyre happiness multiplied by 10
hotballs: i've ridden both and the ST handles better than the GS, but the engine feels a little boring. Plus GS's are BMW and BMW = BadMotorWorks.com
Ur friend will be sorry sooner or later if he buys a BMW... just ask the guys here: advrider.com/f/threads/bmw-1-200-adventure-or-super-tenere-1-200-se-caste-your-vote-for-me-please.631883/
Triumphs are British/Thai made/assembled... I'm sticking with Japanese.
in it?
in it?
I didnt detect the sarcasam, my radar has been turned down
Been wanting to have a ride of the new tenere as I was a big fan of the old 660
IMHO of owning dual sport bikes (XR 650L BMW F650 dakar) you do end up riding black top (work commute) most of the time - but - dependent upon how close you are to back roads / touring roads - you only need to ride back roads / off roads once a month to justify ownership - they really come into their own and leave the more road biased dual sports for dead (literally in the case of my mates lovely little Suzi ds650 which holed its very open oil filter in the first long back road ride).
I think one of the bike mags recently did a comparo test between the multi cylinder dual sports. I would happily park either the KTM , BMW or YAM in the shed but definitly pass on the more road biased mounts
buy it and Good luck fly - I miss my adventure bike touring days - they were a blast
hotballs: Your friend owned a K1300R, wow sweet, maybe he would like to buy my panniers: http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150527999201
They're really handy, seriously... I know, know... panniers? but once u get past your preconceptions and actually start to use them they're fantastic.
Truth be told those 127Kw, and the quick shifter of the K1300R were awesome, but they were only good for flipping off R1's and other would be show off's
BTW: (sorry about the quality my phone was to hand)
Ben, it's never too late; have a read of these posts www.advrider.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=5 , get an idea and go for it
